Using Intel Multi-Port Server Adapters to Optimize Server Virtualization and Consolidation

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Using Intel® Multi-Port Server Adapters to Optimize Server Virtualization and Consolidation White Paper
Figure 1. VMware In
fr
as
tructure 3* enables enterprises to create a virtual infrastructure, which provides a layer of
abstraction between the computing, storage, and networking hardware and the software that operates on it. With a
virtual infrastructure, users see r
esources as if the resources were dedicated to them. The administrator manages
and optimizes resources transparently across the data center.
Application
Operating
System
Application
Operating
System
Application
Operating
System
Application
Operating
System
Intel
®
Architecture
Service
Console
VMware
Virtualization Layer
CPU
Memory
NIC
Disk
Backup
Agent
Having the capability to run multiple virtual
machines simultaneously on one physical server
enables enterprises to consolidate workloads from
several separate physical servers, thereby reducing
the number o
f servers required for a given work-
load. Unlike physical servers, virtual machines can
be cr
eated in a matter of minutes and can be
moved from one physical server to another without
reconfiguring the operating system or applications.
As a result, services can be provisioned faster and
resources allocated more easily to business units
when needed. In addition, virtualization enables IT
administrators to proactively manage their systems
to help prevent unplanned downtime and increase
overall availability.
However, in a virtual computing infrastructure, net-
work links become even more critical to business
continuity. To take greatest advantage of the benefits
of virtualization and consolidation, IT organizations
need a vital infrastructure element to improve
reliability and performance: multi-port NICs.
Building Virtual Infrastructure with
VMware Infrastructure 3
Today, approximately 99 of the Fortune 100
companies are VMware customers.
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No matter
how large or small the enterprise, adopting VMware
In
frastructure enables IT departments to be
responsive to business needs while controlling costs.
VMware Infrastructure 3 is a feature-rich suite
that delivers the production-proven efficiency,
availability, and dynamic management needed to
create a responsive data center. At the core of
VMware Infrastructure 3 is VMware ESX Server
3—a platform for virtualizing servers, storage, and
networking. VMware ESX Server 3 provides a
virtualization layer, allowing multiple virtual
machines to operate simultaneously on a single
physical server. ESX Server 3 provides IT adminis-
trators with additional capabilities that give them
complete control over the server resources
allocated to each virtual machine. ESX Server 3
software typically enables organizations to run
one to eight virtual machines per processor on